Independent review needed, not blind denial, to address US claims – maritime expert

Malaysia should commission an independent investigation into U.S. allegations concerning transhipment activities, stated Datuk Seri R. Jeyenderan, a maritime expert. The review must scrutinize the full journey of cargo, encompassing the manifest, bill of lading, customs paperwork, certificate of origin, storage logs, any blending or processing, and the final export declaration.

Jeyenderan emphasized that this principle was previously advocated in the K8 matter, where questions regarding cargo movement, documentation, storage, blending, or final classification could not be dismissed without explaining the checks performed and the conclusions drawn.

He echoed the concerns raised by Tan Sri Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, a former secretary-general of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), who alleged that Malaysia was unfairly labeled by the U.S. over the issue. Jeyenderan cautioned that Malaysia's silence on this matter could be misconstrued as either an inability or unwillingness to address the problem, potentially resulting in heavier inspections, delayed clearance, increased compliance costs, and heightened scrutiny of certificates of origin for Malaysian exporters.

He stressed that the repercussions extend beyond a single U.S. report, impacting the credibility of Malaysia's ports, customs controls, and trade documentation.

Jeyenderan urged Malaysia to ask the U.S. to provide the actual evidence behind the allegations to facilitate proper investigation. He urged the government to defend the country's reputation with factual evidence and transparent enforcement. He clarified that lawful transhipment is integral to international trade, but falsifying goods' origin or minor processing to evade tariffs is unlawful.

The government should thoroughly investigate credible allegations, taking action against violators and challenging unsupported claims openly with evidence. Blind denial would not safeguard the country's reputation; transparency would.